Whetstone Mountains Archives – GlassMountains Trip Reports

On Tuesday, January 28, June Meyer and Bill Hiscox joined me on a climb of “Mescal Peak” in the southern Whetstone Mountains of Arizona. This peak is not officially named, and would normally just be called Peak 6193 (for its point elevation). But some local peakbaggers have given it the name “Mescal Peak”; Mescal Spring and Mescal Creek lie just north and east of it. Numbered names are boring and difficult to remember.

I wanted to climb Mescal Peak because it has 1106 feet of topographic prominence, has a classic conical shape, and foot access. June and Bill, also Southern Arizona Hiking Club members, joined me out of curiosity. The peak is local but has not been added to the nearly 500 other peaks on the club list.

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On Wednesday, March 7, I joined the Southern Arizona Hiking Club on a climb of Apache Peak and French Joe Peak in the Whetstone Mountains southeast of Tucson. Apache Peak is the 29th most prominent peak in Arizona with 2886 feet of topographic prominence and 7711 feet of elevation. French Joe Peak lies nearby to the south of Apache Peak.

I last attempted Apache Peak in December 2016. Then I drove in by myself until the road erosion and steep grade convinced me to park several miles short of the end of the road. I hiked from there to near the end of the road and climbed up the WSW ridge through knee-high grass to a rocky point to consider my situation. By then it was late afternoon, I was running low on energy, and I thought that the risks were too high to continue. After returning to my Jeep I drove out in the dark. I noted on the road hike how the brush closed in on the road and one quite steep drop into and out of a wash promised some excitement when I returned someday.

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Mescal Peak (Peak 6193), Arizona, January 2025

Whetstone Mountains, Arizona, March 2018